Barrel-emptying hand truck



1,636,682 July 26, 1927. c. G. CARL-SON BARREL EMPTYING HAN-D TRUCK Filed May 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W MIME! ('azremceazmrtsom Patented July 26, 1927, 1'

UNITED STATE CLARENCE G, CARLSON, or SPOKANE, WASHINGTO N.

BARREL-EMPTYING HAND 'rnucx.

Application filed May 11,

The object of this invention is to provide a novel hand truck device for handling a barrel in a manner to facilitate emptying the contents thereof with a minimum of lift ing effort on the part of the operator.

The invention is especially designed for use in emptying liquid contents of barrels, although the invention is not limitedto this use. The average weight of a barrel filled with liquid is five hundred pounds, and thehazards involved in tilting such a heavy container are very great, rupture being a prevalent injury resulting therefrom, and it is a great desideratum of large concerns to avoid a far as possible, any such hazards.

One of the objects of the invention is to incorporate in a hand truck, the device of my invention, in such a manner as not to in any way reduce the efliciency of the truck in its ordinary usage of trucking. V v

A feature of my invention consists in equipping a hand truck with means for holding a barrel thereon against slipping endwise along the truck, irrespective of the various positions which the truck may occupy in the performance of its functions. q

A further feature consists in the provision g portio'n 5', having a tapered edge 6, and the of legs in such relation to the wheels thereof to cause such wheels and legs to form means for supporting the barrel in an initial position in which a portion, and preferably, a major portion of the contents, may be drained or poured off by the simple expedient of tilt ing the truck on its wheels, from a substan tially vertical, into an inclined posit-ion toward the horizontal.

A further feature resides in mechanism whereby the barrel may be tilted into a further position, which may be termed a final position, whereby the balance of the contents may be poured off.

A further object is to equip a truck with such means and mechanism designed and 1926. Serial No. 108,365.

truck equipped with the device of my invention showing the position just before the iarrel is tilted.

F ig. 2, is a similar view showing the barrel tilted .into the initial pouring position whereby a major portiOn of the contents can be drawn 0th Fig." 3, is a similar view showing a step in the adjustment for disposing the barrel in a final pouring position.

- Fig4, is asimilar view showing the bar rel disposed in the final pouring position with the same, or a usual size can,'in a receiving position with respect to the spigot.

Fig. 5, is a front elevation looking from the left of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.-

'I will next describe the specific form of my invention a shown. I have illustrated truck frame composed of lateral members land 2 and cross members 3 and 4. The

' frame is provided with a prizing bar or shoe of generally U-shaped form, the bight bar limbs 7 being secured to the members 1 and 2. a shown. This shoe constitutes one portion of a'means for holding a barrel on the frame. The remaining portion of said means, as shown, consists of hooks 7', having hook shaped ends 8. and terminal ends 9, the latter being selectively adjustable in holes 10, in'members 1 and 2. for adjustably connecting the hooks to the frame in accordance with the length of the barrel. I have shown at 11, an oil or gasoline barrel of intermediate size and length, the same being provided with a spigot 12. It will nowbeclear that thcshoe and hooks just described, will hold the barrel 11 against slipping in endwise directions on the frame in any of the various positions to which the frame is adjusted. i

The frame is provided with what I will broadly term fulcrum elements and which are herein shown in the form of wheels 13, whichare rotatively mounted on the ends of an axle 14, secured'to the frame at or near the shoe end thereof. In accordance with my invention, I employ the usual diameter of wheels now used on trucks, this being an advantage that will later more fully appear. In addition'to the fulcrum wheels,

I I employ fulcrum legs which are generally 'tion shown in Fig. 2.

indicated at 15, and which depend from their points of anchorage to the lower faces of frame members 1 and 2, as shown. These legs are located in such a novel relation to wheels 13 that when the truck is in the initial pouring position, as shown in Fig. 2, the spigot end of the barrel will be sufficiently elevated from the floor so that it can discharge into a can 16, set on the floor, and which can is of the usual stock size and capacity now used in large oil warehouses and stations of like character. In other words, the legs 15, in order to perform thepar-ticular functions required of them,

are not only of a sufficient height, but they are disposed in such close relation to wheels 13, as to coact therewith to support the truck and its barrel in the desired initial pouring position without special adjustment, and whenever the truck is in the posi- Furthermore, said legs are disposed in the novel relation shown for the purpose of causing said legs to support the load of barrels substantially mid-way between the ends thereof. In other words, the legs 15, are substantially subjacent the center of mass of the barrel irrespective of the variation of len th' thereof, such Variation being only a few inches. The function resulting from this combination, will be later described.

My invention includes what I will term a primary frame support which as shown is in theform'of a' U-shaped foot, the

bight 17, thereof, being adapted to rest on the floor, and the legs or limbs 18 and 19.

thereof, being pivoted to the inner faces of the frame members 1 and 2, respectively, at 20, by a rod of that designation, as shown. It will be noted that the support is disposed rearwardly of the axle 14, which disposition permits the support to be folded into an inoperative position rearwardly and upwardly between members 1 and 2 where it can be held by any suitable device such as a hook 21. /Vhen the support is unfolded or swung into an operative position, as shown in Fig. 3, it is a feature of my invention to hold the support in rigid relation to the frame so that the loaded truck cannot move endwise when the load is imposed on said support. Asa means of performing this function, I have shown a catch 22, pivoted to limb 19, at 23, and having a recessed portion 24-, adapted to fit snugly onto the axle, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. This primary support is. a part of the mechanism for supporting the barrel in a final pouring position, the remaining portion of said mechanism being next described.

WVhat I will term a secondary support is also shown as being of U-shaped form, the bight 25 being adapted to engage the floor, and the limbs 26 and 27 being pivoted to position beneath the'mem'bers 1 and 2, and

held'in such position by means such as a hook 32. The secondary support need not be locked when in its operative position, as shown in Fig. t, for the reason that the locked relation of the primary support prevents endwise shifting of the structure.

Now it will be clear that when the truck in a final pouring mechanism is adjusted into position, as shown in Fig. l, the initial means, consisting of wheels 13 and legs 15, are inoperative and also free from engagement with the floor. This is due to the fact that the final mechanism, consisting of the primary and secondary supports just described, are formed of sufiicient length to slightly elevate the frame when the latter is in the final pouring position, to afford room for interposition of the same can 16, or one of stock height, below spigot 12, notwithstanding the fact that in the final pouring position shown in Figfl 4n, the barrel is inclined from the horizontal, whereas inthe initial pouring position as shown in Fig. 2, the barrel is merely in clined toward the horizontal. I I will next describe the operation ofiny invention. 7

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be assumed that the barrel 11, has beenv tilted as shown, or. not, as the case may be, with the shoe edge 6, disposed either below the edge of the barrel or against the periphery thereof. At any rate, the hooks 7, are engaged with the top of the barrel and when the truck is tilted from the'vertical, the barrel will assume a position generally as shown in Fig. .2. In tilting the barrel in this manner, the wheels 13, act as fulcrums. The legs .15, will coact with wheelsli, to sup-- port the barrel at a slight inclination to the horizontal with the spigot high enough to dispose can 16 in receiving relation thereto. This is what I have termed the initial pouring or draining off position. It will now be clear that if the legs 15 were anchored close to the handle end of the frame, they would have to be unduly high, in order to afford the position of the barrel here shown. However, with the barrel in the Fig. 2, position, the contents can be drained off through spigot 12, into cans or other receptacles, ui1- til the level in the barrel reaches the position shown in dotted line 33, wherein it will be clear that a major portion of the contents has been withdrawn, the weight being reduced approximately from five hundred pounds to about one hundred and forty pounds or less. Thus, from this time on, the barrel can be handled with 'much less effort.

After the major draw-off has been completed, the frame is tilted intothe position shown in Fig. 3, the frame resting jointly on the ends of the handles 30 and 31, and the legs 15, the wheel end being elevated. Now it will be clear why I dispose the legs 15, in the position shown, namely, near the center of mass of theload, as in such posi tion, the effort in tilting the frame from the position shown in Fig. 2, to that shown in Fig. 3, is very greatly reduced, and further, when the contents is in an over-balanced position, as in either figure, it acts to hold the frame in the position to which it has been tilted. The dotted line 34, shows the position of the liquid contents in Fig. 3. It will also be seen. thatthe spigot 12, is too low to permit of the usual stock can being disposed therebeneath. Now, in this Fig. 3, position, I have shown the primary support unfolded down into an operative position, and looked, as described in connection with Fig 6. The elevation of the wheeled end of the frame permits of this adjustment of the primary support without lifting the frame.

The operator will next take hold of the handles 30 and 31, and lift the same to the position shown in Fig. 4, about the primary support as a fulcrum, the secondary support being let down as shown in Fig. 4, to take its share of the weight. hen the frame is thus disposed, it is preferably in an inclined position to the horizontal, and the balance of the contents can then be drawn off into receiving cans. The dotted line 35, would indicate that the last portion of the contents would not flow by gravity, at the inclination shown, but it would then be easy to slightly lift the left hand end of the barrel to withdraw such slight amount of the last of the contents.

It will thus be seen that the wheels and legs constitute means for supporting the barrel in an initial position whereby a major portion of the contents may be poured off by gravity, and that the primary and secondary supports constitute mechanism whereby the barrel may be held in a position to pour off the balance of the contents thereof.

It is a special feature of my invention to construct the structure thereof in such a manner that it can be attached '00- trucks I now in service not only without material change therein, but with a view of rendering such trucks equally serviceable in their usual capacity irrespective of the fact that they are equipped with the device of my invention.

It will be understood that it is most important to maintain the floor areas of big warehouses as clean as possible and this is particularly true of gasoline and oil warehouses. In cases where the wind is blowin'g through the warehouse, and it is either not possible or convenient to close the doors, the operation of emptying a barrel, with my portable device, is rendered safer, because it can be advanced into an area that is free from wind in order to carry out the pouring operation. Thus, the dangerous practice of having gasoline blown over the floor maybe entirely avoided. 1 r

It is believed that the device of my inven-v tion will befully understood from the foregoing description, and while I'have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim w 1. In a barrel emptying hand truck device, a truck frame having a shoe adapted to be projected into supporting relation beneath the barrel, said frame having handles at one end thereof, fulcrum wheels at that end of said frame opposite the handle end thereof on which said frame and barrel is adapted to be tilted from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal inclined position, means on said frame engaging the upper end of said barrel to hold the latter against slipping toward the handle end of said frame, said frame having fulcrum legs coacting with said wheels to support said barrel in a substantially horizontal inclined position whereby a major portion of p the contents of the barrel maybe drained off, said legs being sufficiently close to said wheels to be disposed substantially midway between the ends of the barrel, whereby the frame may be tilted on said legs to dispose the handles in engagement with the floor and elevate the wheeled end of said frame, a primary frame support at the wheeled end of said frame adapted to be un-folded into a frame supporting position while said wheeled end is elevated, said truck frame being adapted to be lifted by the operator from the handle end while fulcruming on said primary frame support, and a secondary frame support on the handle end of said frame adapted to be un-folded into a frame supporting position to support said frame and its barrel in an inclined position whereby the balance of the contents may be drained ofl".

2. In a barrel emptying hand truck device, a truck frame having means for holding a barrel thereon, and said frame having handles at one end thereof, fulcrum wheels at that end of said frame remote from the handle end on which said frame and barrel are adapted to be tilted from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal inclined position, said frame having fulcrum legs coacting with said wheels to support said barrel. in a substantially horizontal inclined position whereby a major portion of the contents of the barrel may be drained off, said legs being sufficiently close to said wheels to be disposed substantially mid-way between the ends of the barrel, whereby the frame may be tilted on said legs to dispose the handles on the floor and support the barrel on said legs and handles and elevate the wheeled end of said frame, a primary frame support at the wheeled end of said frame adapted to be un-folded into a frame supporting position while said wheeled end is elevated, said truck frame being adapted to be manually lifted by its handles while fulcruming on its primary frame support, and a secondary frame support on the handle end of said frame adapted to be unfolded into a frame supporting position and coacting with said primary frame support to support said barrel in an inclined posit-ion whereby the balance of the contents may be drained off. r 3

3. In a barrel emptying truck device, a' truck frame having fulcrum wheels and means for holding a barrel thereon against slipping in endwise directions, fulcrum legs coacting with said wheels for supporting the barrel at an inclination toward the horizontal whereby the major portion of the contents of the barrel may be poured off, and devices on opposite sides of said legs for supporting said frame with said wheels and legs free from the floor and at an inclination from the horizontal whereby the balance of the contents may be poured off In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix my signature.

CLARENCE e. oAaLsoN; 

